Ronak Panchal
Thanks To Sushma Swaraj now getting passport is extremely easy and hassle less.
If there’s one minister who can change the meaning of a representative(babu) for us, it has to be Sushma Swaraj- the Union Minister for External Affairs.
She showed us how Twitter could be put to its best use. Moreover she helped stranded Indians reach their motherland safely. She suffered kidney failure, but even that couldn’t stop her from delivering her duties. And we just can’t complain.
Therefore, if one person can make us believe that politicians can work first for the nation’s interest and then for their own, it is Sushma Swaraj. She has set an example of efficiency.
image source: theindusparent.com
Continuing her efforts to simplify passport issuance, Sushma Swaraj introduced a new set of rules announced on December 23, 2016, which took effect from December 26.
Also the rules updated for orphaned children, single mothers, sadhus, and government employees.
Proof of Date of Birth
The scrapped rules asked for the birth certificate as the only proof of birth date of an applicant. However, the new rules allow alternative documents to serve as proof of birth date. The alternatives include:
- Birth Certificate
- PAN card
- Aadhar Card/E-Adhar card with DOB of applicant
- Driving Licence
- Election Photo Identity Card
- Transfer, school leaving or matriculation certificate by the institution last attended and recognized by the educational board.
- For government employees: copy of the service record of the applicant attested by the officer of the respective ministry/department of the applicant.
- For retired officers: copy of the pay pension order certified by the officer of the respective ministry/department of the applicant.
- Policy bond issued by public life insurance companies bearing the DOB of the holder of the insurance.
Name of Parents
Earlier, applicants had to mention both parents’ names. However, after a joint meeting between the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Women and Child Development, officials decided that providing the name of just one parent would be sufficient for passport application.
Marriage Certificate
The divorced or separated applicants will not have to mention the name of their spouses as against the previous rule which asked for the names of spouses.
DOB Proof for Orphans
Orphans without a birth certificate or any valid proof of date of birth may submit a declaration confirming their birth date, signed on official letterhead by the Head of the Orphanage or Child Care Home.
Reduction in the Number of Annexes
Annexes are additions to documents. The application for a passport undertakes various annexures that are binding upon the applicants. For instance, under the Annexure H, if a child under 18 years of age is an applicant, their father or mother automatically becomes their guardians.
The annexes have been reduced from 15 to 9. The annexures which have been scrapped are A, C, D, E, J, and K.
No Attestation/swearing on Annexes
The new rules allow applicants to self-attest annexes, replacing the earlier requirement of attestation by a Notary, Executive Magistrate, or First Class Judicial Magistrate.
Ease for Sadhus
Sadhus will not be required to give their parents’ names. Instead, they can provide the names of their spiritual gurus.
Govt Employees Who do not Have Identity Card or No-Objection Certificate
image source: iStock Photo via Getty Images
They can submit a self-declaration in Annexure N maintaining that they have intimated their employers about their intention of applying for a passport, through a written letter.
Thanks to Sushma Swaraj, people won’t have to fear the delay in issuing of passports anymore.
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